Category — weather radar

In 1964, the first Doppler weather radar commissioned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was a 3-cm Doppler, used to receive signals from storms. When this weather detector radar system was used for tornado tracking, scientists quickly realized this Doppler was not the best radar system to receive all of the necessary signals. In 1973, the NOAA upgraded to a 10-cm Doppler, which was observed by the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL). A tornado’s life cycle was captured through film and data for the first time in history, giving scientists a better picture of the circular wind patterns and central rotation point known to tornados.

Scientists sought to increase their knowledge of how storms like these formed. One particular storm in May of 1973 cut right through the heart of Union City, Oklahoma. Union City lies in the center of the infamous “Tornado Alley” region of the United States. With the data received by the scientists, they were able to start planning upgrades and improvements of the Doppler weather radar so it could be a more reliable asset to the government and the residents. The Doppler system maps weather radar by measuring the motion inside these very hostile storms. Over time, scientists discovered that tornadoes produce a unique signature; different from regular storms. And as time went on, they were able to recognize this pattern, which they later called the “tornadic vortex” signature.

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Throughout history, many lives have been lost at the hands of severe weather. Meteorologists and scientists alike are always investigating new ways to increase the warning time for these storms, with the hope of reducing the loss of life. In the past few decades, local weather radar advancements have been made, which allow for better accuracy in predicting the paths of these storms, thus allowing meteorologists to issue severe weather reports and warnings earlier than in previous years.

Meteorologists and scientists have been able to successfully track severe thunderstorms and possible tornadoes by using an advanced tracking system called NEXRAD (Next-Generation Radar). NEXRAD is a tracking network made up of 158 Doppler weather radars. This high-resolution computerized system takes readings on the amount of precipitation in the air, the movements in the clouds, and the wind speeds during a storm. These readings are bounced back to a local weather computer, and a colorful image is rendered on the screen, giving meteorologists a clear picture of what kind of weather is on the horizon. This final image is what you see when the meteorologist breaks in with severe weather reports and warnings, usually with a description of how he maps weather radar.

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